Awards and Scholarships

Awards and scholarships are given annually to students for their academic and leadership accomplishments. Many academic departments also honor students for their high level of achievement in their disciplines. Consult with individual departments for details.

This is a representative list of the recognitions given to undergraduate students at the annual Gallaudet University Undergraduate Awards Ceremony, which is held every Spring.

Agatha T. Hanson Service Award: Conferred annually upon the woman in the senior class who during the year has shown the greatest promise of high character and leadership.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award: Given to a student who has demonstrated a high degree of spiritual qualities, which he or she has applied in daily life on the campus, thereby aiding others and making Gallaudet a better place.

Alice M. Teegarden Memorial Award: Presented by the Department of Communication Studies to two outstanding junior and senior majors in the department who have demonstrated high academic achievement, effective interpersonal skills, and leadership.

Alpha Sigma Pi Fraternity Scholarships: Awarded to deserving undergraduate students for scholastic standing, leadership, and demonstrated financial need. The funds for these scholarships are raised through endeavors such as the annual ASP carnival.

Alumni Athletic Awards: Winners of the Alumni Athletic Awards are selected by members of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association. Recipients must be seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the sports program while at Gallaudet. The awards consist of gold (first), silver (second), and bronze (third) medallions.

Art Department Awards: The Joseph L. Mattivi Memorial Scholarship Fund awards graphic design students for excellence in their field. Additionally, the Art Department presents awards for outstanding achievement to students majoring or minoring in the specialized areas offered by the department.

Alpha Sigma Pi Fraternity Scholarships: Awarded to deserving undergraduate students for scholastic standing, leadership, and demonstrated financial need. The funds for these scholarships are raised through endeavors such as the annual ASP carnival.

Athlete-Scholar Award: This award, a $25 government bond, is given to a senior who excels in both athletics and academic work. This award was established by Gallaudet's graduating class of 1966.

Buff and Blue Merit Key Awards: Awarded for services to and outstanding support of essential matters pertaining to the success of the Buff and Blue.

Career Center Hall of Fame: This appointment is based on the student's motivation, attitude, professional growth, and achievement during his or her co-op internship through Academic Advising and Career Center. Awardees' names will be engraved on a plaque displayed in the Career Center.

Charles R. Ely Chemistry Award: A monetary award presented to a senior for excellence in chemistry.

Charles R. Ely Scholarship Award for Women: An annual monetary prize established by the family of Charles R. Ely given for general scholarship.

Daughters of Union Veterans of Civil War History Essay Award: Made in recognition of excellent work on an original paper written by a Gallaudet student on any topic related to American history.

Delta Epsilon Sorority Ideal Student Awards: Designed to give recognition to two serious students whom the members of the sorority have found to exemplify the ideal balance between academic pursuit and service to fellow students.

Department of Business Award: Given annually to the most outstanding business major who is graduating. It recognizes the student's achievements in school, at work, and in the campus community.

Dorothy Hamberg Memorial Award: Presented by the Department of Physical Education and Recreation to the outstanding student in the department who demonstrates high levels of academic achievement and provides professional services to the community while exemplifying the qualities of Dorothy Hamberg, former professor of physical education.

Dorothy P. Polakoff Award for Academic Excellence: Awarded to the senior social work major with the highest academic achievement as measured by GPA in social work courses and performance in the social work internship.

First Year General Chemistry Award: Given to the outstanding first-year chemistry student in recognition of excellence and promise in the field.

Foreign Study Scholarships: The awarding of the scholarships for travel is based on grades and a personal interview with the selection committee.

Gallaudet University Alumni Association Buff and Blue Awards: Established to encourage interest in the field of writing. The awards cover several categories: poetry, short stories, essays, and journalistic articles.

Joseph L. Mattivi Memorial Scholarship Fund (Joe Fund): Awarded to Career Center interns who most exemplify the spirit of life and work of Joe Mattivi, a former Experiential Programs Off Campus (EPOC) internship counselor at Gallaudet University, who passed away at the early age of 34. Awardees are chosen, by Career Center Internship Advisors, from any Gallaudet major and exemplify excellence in scholarship and work, embracing challenge as a learning experience, and demonstrating a joy for life and a love for humanity.

Leon Auerbach Freshman Mathematics Award: Awarded annually for the best work done in this subject.

Lillian Gourley Rakow Creative Writing Award: Established in 1982 with a gift from the estate of Jules Pierre Rakow in memory of his wife, Lillian. The fund provides an annual award to a sophomore, junior, and senior with demonstrated creative writing ability. Winners are selected on the basis of a portfolio submitted to the English Department and evaluated by a special committee.

MacDougall Creative Writing Award: This award, established in 1979 by Nanette Fabray MacDougall in honor of her husband, Randy, is open to any full-time, deaf undergraduate student at Gallaudet. Gallaudet students compete for prizes by submitting a portfolio of creative writing to the English Department. The writing is then judged by a committee of professional writers and teachers. The purpose of the award is to recognize "promising deaf writers at Gallaudet and to encourage them to seek careers using their writing skills."

Male and Female Athlete of the Year: Winners of these prestigious awards are selected by the Athletics Department's head coaches. The recipients must have had an outstanding season in one or more sports in the current academic year; have earned at least a team award, conference honor, or NCAA honor; have been good role models on and off the field; and be in good academic standing.

Olof Hanson Service Award: Conferred annually upon the man in the senior class who during the year showed the greatest promise of high character and leadership.

Phi Alpha Pi Award Phi Alpha Pi is the scholastic honor society of the University. See the section entitled "Honor Societies," in the Campus Programs and Services section.

Phi Kappa Zeta Alumni Scholarship: Presented to sophomore, junior, and senior sorority members with high scholastic standing by the national chapter of Phi Kappa Zeta.

Phi Kappa Zeta Leonard M. Elstad Scholarship for Total Performance: Presented annually to an incoming senior who has high qualities of leadership, scholarship, and personality. The recipient of this award receives $50.

President's Council Award: Presented to the student with the highest academic achievement.

Professional Development Award: Awarded to the senior social work major who demonstrates exceptional professional growth during the major as measured by degree of personal identification, growth, and maturity as reflected in performance in social work courses and internship.

Psychology Department Award: Presented each year to a graduating senior who has maintained a high grade point average over a period of four years at Gallaudet University and who is an exemplary major in psychology.

Sociology Department Award: The Sociology Department Annual Award is given to an exemplary graduating senior who has a consistently high GPA in all Sociology courses, as well as outstanding work in their internship, research, and/or leadership.

Student Body Government Service Awards and Honorable Mention: Awarded to members of the SBG who have given their time and effort to the improvement of the organization.

Thomas S. Marr Awards: Through the bequest of Thomas S. Marr, the income from the Thomas S. Marr Fund is awarded to juniors or seniors with the highest cumulative grade point averages.

Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities: Included in this publication are the names of juniors and seniors in recognition of their outstanding leadership, scholastic achievement, character, and service to the University